Proud to be a Parent of a TCK

Third Culture Kids - quite the unique bunch. My kids are TCKs. What is it? Here's a definition:
David Pollack says, "TCK refers to someone who, as a child, has spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture." Third Culture Kids are also referred to as Global Nomads.
So why I am writing about this? We just returned from Christian Associates' CONNECT conference. Susy and I facilitated an Exchange session on raising Third Culture Kids. The really cool part of it was that 6 TCKs (including Carly) came to the session and parents asked them all sorts of questions for the hour. We were really proud of them as they processed about their experiences and the rich lives they all lead!
TCKs navigate a lot of things - constant transition, a lack of belonging in one place, the depth of relationship with other TCKs where they find themselves "at home." They are a unique breed of person. Well done, Carly and Steven and the other CA kids!

Carly (in black jacket, third from left) with other TCKs at Christian Associates' CONNECT conference in Germany last week.

Seminars at Connect

I am at the Christian Associates CONNECT conference in Germany this week. At the moment I'm sitting in one of the seminars, entitled, "How to handle your money during tight times." It's an hour long session.

George Steinbrenner and John Wooden meet in Heaven

     I don't exactly know what heaven will be like, and I don't exactly know who will be there. But I wonder what it was like when George Steinbrenner died 40 days after John Wooden. Did they meet in Heaven? What might they have said to each other?

Coach John Wooden

     Two "success" sports figures. Immensely successful. One known as a man with great humility. The other known for his humbrus and self-absorption.
     Wooden was the man who would have been just as content if he had never won a national basketball championship. His 10 titles with the UCLA Bruins is unmatched.
     John Wooden was always known as "coach." That's how he will be remembered.

Boss: George Steinbrenner

     Steinbrenner was the man who would stop at nothing for the next championship. He would sacrifice people, the team, and his own integrity to grasp the next championship ring. His New York Yankees won 7 World Championships and 11 Pennants in his tenure os owner of the team. That was not enough to George.
     George Steinbrenner was always known as "boss." That's how he will be remembered.


(From the Preface of a manuscript I am writing on moral leadership.)

The Newmans Back in Amsterdam!

Steven, Susy, and Carly at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

My family is in Amsterdam for the week. I arrived today after being in Germany for a couple of days. Susy and the kids have been here for a week already.


This weekend we are seeing a bunch of great friends. I arrived just in time Friday to join the birthday party for our friend Nico. WONDERFUL TIME!


CORRECTION (5 hours after original post): The photo was taken in front of the Rijksmuseum rather than Central Station. I think I need to visit Amsterdam more often so I know what I am talking about! Ha.

Airline Barf Bags

I flew on US Airways to Frankfurst yesterday/today. A while ago US Airways allowed CBS TV to advertise on the barf bags in their airplanes. Now how stupid is that? A US Airways spokesman said this at the time:
      "The airsick bag is not used like it was in the past -- primarily with turbo-prop aircraft and cabins that weren't pressurized -- so the negative connotation of the sick sack has gone away."
      I don't know about you, but when I got on the plane from Philadelphia to Frankfurt and saw the barf bag all I could think was, "Hope I don't have to barf into that thing."
      By the way, I think one of the most awkward moments of life is after you barf into one of those bags and then call the flight attendant to give her/him the bags and its content. What do you say? "Here's my vomit. Could you throw it away for me?"

Today is a Travel Day

I've got a long day coming up. Morning flight from Denver to Philadelphia, a few hours in Philly, then flight to Frankfurt, Germany. I arrive at 10am local time, 2 in the morning back in Denver.
       I'm much more motivated about traveling, because my family is already in Europe and I will see them Friday night in Amsterdam.
       For the next week I will post from Europe. Check back. It should be fun.

A Philanthropic GIANT

Warren Buffett is one of the heroes of the philanthropic world. I have a keen interest in stewardship and philanthropy. Studies show that wealthy people in the USA (those earning more than $200,000 per year) give less than 2% of their wealth away. Warren Buffett is a radical exception.

     Here is the the beginning of his "Philanthropic Pledge" which became public earlier this year:

    In 2006, I made a commitment to gradually give all of my Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic foundations. I couldn't be happier with that decision.

    Now, Bill and Melinda Gates and I are asking hundreds of rich Americans to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to charity.

    So I think it is fitting that I reiterate my intentions and explain the thinking that lies behind them.

    First, my pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more to others every day. Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. The dollars these people drop into a collection plate or give to United Way mean forgone movies, dinners out, or other personal pleasures.

    In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99% pledge.

Well done, Mr. Buffett. May I have one ounce as much generosity as you display.

I Laugh, or I Will Cry

A lot of people have commented about this photo of me. They wonder what I am laughing so hard about. The photo was taken at Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks of New York. It was October and I was speaking at a men's retreat of my home church, Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland.


We were all standing on the boat dock close to the lake when one of the guys was dared to strip down and jump in the lake. Mind you that it was October in upstate New York and the lake was probably 50 degrees! Well the guy did it, and I laughed so hard that I almost peed my pants. And someone shot a picture of me.


The photo has an additional meaning for me. I have realized that I must either laugh at some things in life, or cry over them. Sometimes I do both. But my sadness over poor stewardship and even worse leadership that I have observed in various contexts can be overwhelming sometimes. So this picture reminds me to laugh hard when I can.

Notes from My Edge

Today is August 1st and I am starting a new blog. I had a blog for about 2 years after I moved to America from Europe. Since then I have not blogged, but now I am starting again. I have titled the blog, "Step Up to Life" which is a reference to a company I started with some friends almost a year ago (see www.stepupenterprises.com).


I'm concerned about three things which I want to give voice to here:
   1) Our stewardship of life - time, energy, money, etc.
   2) Leadership - how we exercise it, what truly great leadership looks like
   3) Next steps - everyone has a next step and I'm interested in people take next steps in healthy ways


This blog also serves as a journal of "notes from my edge." These notes are part of a manuscript I am writing on leadership. I'll share some of that along the way as well. So I hope you will be helped and encouraged by a few reflections here.